Politician starts campaign to save Derbyshire’s lollipop men and women

Michael Broomhead

A politician has launched a campaign to save Derbyshire’s under-threat lollipop men and women.

All school crossing patrol officers who currently work at 200 locations around the county face losing their jobs next year as Derbyshire County Council bids to save £157million by 2018.

Lee Rowley, who is bidding to be elected Conservative MP for north-east Derbyshire in next year’s General Election, has now started an online petition opposing the controversial plans – and is urging parents to sign it.

Mr Rowley said: “These men and women are an important part of our community and play a huge role in ensuring children get to school safely.

“The county council needs to find other ways to save money – just like other authorities have managed to do.”

He said the county council should not have spent £219,000 on a “golden handshake” for its former chief executive nor £150,000 on a London-based PR consultancy form.

A county council spokesman said: “We’re facing some difficult decisions and having to assess every service we provide in the face of budget cuts.

“No decisions have yet been made on possible changes to the provision of school crossing patrols.

“Any proposal for change would be subject to a full consultation where everyone would be encouraged to make their views known.

“All comments and petitions would be taken into account.”

Sign Mr Rowley’s petition at www.saveourcrossingpatrols.co.uk

• Nearly 600 people have now signed a campaigning mum’s petition to save the county’s lollipop men and women.

Mum-of-two Lisa Pritchard, of St Augustines Crescent, Chesterfield, started the online petition in October and so far it has attracted 580 signatures.

She fears the county council’s plans could be “dangerous” and put children’s lives on the line. Join Lisa’s campaign at www.epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/70288